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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. stand — to bear
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. plane — a tool
  6. branch — a division
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. staff — employees
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. staff — employees
  16. prune — to trim
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. prune — to trim
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. cabinet — ministers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com